National

United States
George Clooney's NGO hit in court by a Sudanese businessman accused of corruption

The Sentry has withdrawn the report that alleged corruption on the part of the Sudanese businessman after being sued for libel and slander. No damages were awarded in the case but the report is no longer available.

Italy
How small Italian cyber intelligence companies are reacting to Cy4gate's omnipresence

Cy4gate is becoming more and more influential in Italian cyberintelligence. Smaller companies are strategising to remain in dialogue with the authorities.

Qatar, UAE, United States
Hardball player Bullpen Strategy Group to launch new front for Abu Dhabi in information war against Doha

Bullpen, a subcontractor for Akin Gump, is netting $32,500 monthly for its role as a footsoldier in the lobbying wars between the two long-feuding Gulf states.

The Tech Telegraph
DGA-MI automates electronic warfare; Jean-Matthieu Tilquin joins ChapsVision; DARPA explores quantic computing; Advent International beefs up intelligence portfolio

Whether in SIGINT, GEOINT, OSINT or cyber, we report each week on developments great and small in the world of the technical intelligence providers.

Bruz France's DGA-MI takes interest in AI for electronic warfare

Washington DARPA launches prospection for quantic computing

Paris Jean-Matthieu Tilquin leaves Bloom for ChapsVision

Boston Advent International pursues its intelligence acquisitions, buying Maxar

Taiwan, UAE
Taiwan's space industry makes foray into UAE with Tron Future

Tron Future's space observation technology is at the forefront of Taiwan's fledgling space industry, which is poised to dip a toe in the Emirati marketplace, hoping to secure a place in the kingdom's space programmes.

United States
For aspiring CIA officers and geopolitical strategists, new university program named after George H.W. Bush wants to offer inside track

The School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at Johns Hopkins University has a new competitor. Texas A&M University has launched a Washington campus offering a new Master of National Security and Intelligence degree from its Bush School of Government and Public Service.

Moldova
Counter-intelligence and external intelligence reforms examined in Moldova

Keen to show impeccable credentials to its future European and US allies, the Republic of Moldova is implementing measures to stamp out corruption and improve transparency and governance. Its intelligence sector is no exception and is also set to come under Western-style governance rules.

Europe, Taiwan
Taiwan's spies talk up China threat to European counterparts

Agents working out of diplomatic missions have stepped up a campaign to spread the word about Beijing's purported growing hostility.

Latvia, United States
US lobbyist David Merkel at the centre of Latvian lawyer's murder case

The Latvian probe into the murder of Latvian lawyer Martins Bunkus, linked to the liquidation of the country's third largest commercial bank ABLV, has extended to the US. His former lobbyist is being investigated.

China, United Kingdom
UK parliamentary committee pleads for greater oversight in face of Chinese threats

China's sweeping cyber operations are putting the parliament's intelligence oversight to the test. While UK agencies have ramped up their intelligence work to counter Chinese and foreign threats, the Intelligence and Security Committee laments not having oversight over these new players.

United States
US State Department ramps up its defence against biological threats

As part of the new national biodefence strategy, the US State Department is making adjustments to improve its response to global health risks, which are considered a national security issue. This largely involves increased use of the country's intelligence services.

United States
Former Maven director Aaron Prupas launches artificial intelligence consultancy

Freshly retired Major General Aaron Prupas has swapped his uniform for a business suit and launched a firm focusing on the development of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies for military use, just as the US military is ramping up its efforts on that front.

The Agencies' Gazette
Hossam Louka in Riyadh, State Department's generosity to Chisinau, France's Zahra center

Appointments, reforms and the issues at stake: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets big and small from the global intelligence community from Riyadh to Washington, and Paris to Tehran.

Syria/Saudi ArabiaHossam Louka pops up in Riyadh.

United States/MoldovaChisinau biggest receiver of US fund to counter Russian influence.

France/IranFormer pro-Iranian Centre Zahra France official fails to block asset freeze.

Iran, Syria
Tehran pulls its militias from Syria to beef up domestic fronts

Now in difficulty on their home turf, the Revolutionary Guards are reviewing their militia system in order to adapt it to the evolving situation. Fighters in Syria, Iraq and even Lebanon are being redeployed to the most tense Iranian zones.

Spymaster | France
New DGSI technical director Philippe Chose thrown headfirst into French cyber rivalries

The French domestic intelligence agency's new technical director will need to navigate the assorted cyber ambitions within France's intelligence apparatus, including those of his former employer, the French administration's interceptions service.

France, Germany, United States
Lobbyist Ron Phillips is back in the game promoting French-German land defence interests in DC

With the US defence budget poised for a sharp increase, particularly in land defence, Franco-German consortium KNDS has rekindled its relationship with Republican Ron Phillips, its historical lobbyist in Washington.